Vientiane Travel Answers

Vientiane to Siem Reap by bus or train

Hi! A friend and I are travelling end of November (Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam), but got stuck planning the VIENTIANE (LAOS)- CAMBODIA leg. How do we travel overland bus/train from Vientiane to Siem Reap, approximately how many days it would be and how much? Thanks so much in advance!

Re: Vientiane to Siem Reap by bus or train

The easy way would be by bus to Nong Khai, then train or bus to Bangkok and train or bus to Aranyaprathet, cross the border and then bus to Siem Reap or take a Khao San (mini) bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap.More interresting but slower by bus via Savannakhet, Pakxe, Si Phan Don (the 4,000 islands), Stung Treng (allready Cambodia), Kampong Cham to Phnom Penh, from there by bus or boat to Siem Reap

Re: Vientiane to Siem Reap by bus or train

I would also suggest slower part as explained above by Lothar, Southern Laos and Northern Cambodia are both interesting regions (and different than North) and it is not difficult to travel nowsadays between Pakse to Phnom Penh by mini buses (or combined transport with local buses), with 4000 thousand islands as obvious stop for couple of days or side trips to Bolavens plateau. there's another good site that focus on independent travel in SEA conturies, if you bother to look at...it's travelfish.org

How long will you travel will depend on what you focus of course, but like the above posters suggested, if the speed is your main concern you could go via Thailand, if scenery go via S Lao and N Kampuchia to Phnom Penh and then so on. Or better yet, fly then, it's not necessary that expensive.